01-19-2021 Council Minutes - RegularCITY
Federal Way
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINTUES
Remote Meeting
January 19, 2021 — 6:30 p.m.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Ferrell called the meeting held remotely to order at 6:35 p.m.
City officials in attendance: Mayor Jim Ferrell, Council President Susan Honda, Councilmember
Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Councilmember Greg Baruso, Councilmember Hoang Tran,
Councilmember Leandra Craft, Councilmember Martin Moore, and Councilmember Linda
Kochmar.
City staff in attendance: City Attorney Ryan Call and City Clerk Stephanie Courtney.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Ferrell led the flag salute.
3. PRESENTATIONS
a. Mayor's Emerging Issues and Report
• Mayoral Proclamation: Black Lives Matter — A Call for Action
Mayor Ferrell read the Mayoral Proclamation and spoke to the importance of a call for
action and moving forward to recognize and address systematic racism that exists by
developing equitable policies and practices. He issued the proclamation on Martin
Luther King Jr. Day.
• MLK Jr. Virtual Event Recap
Mayor Ferrell thanked Jeri -Lynn Clark and the Diversity Commission who worked on
the virtual event this year which was held on January 18.
• National Moment of Unity and Remembrance of those who lost their lives to
COVID-19
Mayor Ferrell reported he, along with other staff and Council, attended a socially
distanced outdoor event to remember and honor those Americans who lost their lives
to COVID-19. He also reported on the possibility of using the Performing Arts and Event
Center (PAEC) in conjunction with King County Public Health for vaccine distribution.
Federal Way City Council Special Minutes Page I of 7
January 19, 2021
The conversation to use the facility is in the beginning stages and he will continue
discussions with Parks Director John Hutton and PAEC Director Brian Hoffman. He also
noted the Federal Way Public School Superintendent Dr. Tammy Campbell is very
supportive finding a local facility to increase the amount of vaccines available.
Councilmembers thanked the Mayor for the update and asked questions regarding
traffic plans and cost recovery for increased cleaning of the facility for safety.
• Eyes on Federal Way Report
IT Director Thomas Fichtner and GIS Analyst Stacey Curry provided a deep dive into
the new city software application (app) and its capabilities including a view point from
the user perspective and from the staff side. Mr. Fichtner noted the app launched
December 15, 2020 in both the Apple App Store and on Google.
Ms. Curry provided a highlight of what the app is used for and its capabilities. She also
provided information on the translation abilities of the software, noting the standard
portions of the app are translated into the language of the phone user while any special
categories or data specific would not.
Council thanked Mr. Fichtner and Ms. Curry for their report and information provided.
Various clarifying questions were asked.
Mayor Ferrell also extended a big thank you to Stacy Curry and Thomas Fichtner for
the amount of work they and the rest of IT staff have put into this app for the community.
He also thanked the Council for funding the project and echoed comments from the
presentation regarding transparency is good government.
b. Council Committee Reports
Parks/Recreation/Human Services/Public Safety Committee (PRHSRSSI: Chair Kochmar
reported on the January 12 meeting and the items which passed through Committee and
moved to this Council Meeting. She noted the next meeting will be February 9 at 5:00 p.m.
where a discussion will be held regarding the creation of a list for individuals to easily locate
entities to donate goods or money for those in need (such as help with a water bill or food
donation).
Land Use/Transportation Committee (LUTC): Chair Baruso reported on the items that
passed this committee and to this Council Meeting, including three ordinances scheduled
for second reading and enactment this evening. He announced the next meeting will be
February 1 at 5:00 p.m. Zzoom.
Finance, Economic Development Regional Affairs Committee (FEDRAC): Chair Tran noted
the committee did not meet in December and the next meeting will be on January 26 at 5:00
p.m. via Zoom.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAQ: Chair Assefa-Dawson reported on the most
recent committee meeting and items the committee is working on. She referenced
upcoming events and those canceled or scaled back due to COVID-19. She noted the next
meeting would be held Wednesday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Regional Committees Report (PIC): Councilmember Moore reported the 2021 PIC meeting
schedules, board and committee appointments, and legislative session was discussed. He
noted the next meeting would be February 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Federal Way City Council Special Minutes Page 2 of 7
January 19, 2021
Council President Report: Council President Honda thanked the Diversity Commission for
their work on the MLK Jr. program and getting Federal Way residents and students involved
in the program; she also thanked Jeri -Lynn Clark for her coordination for the event. She
also reported on attending a Diversity Commission Special Meeting on Saturday and they
are looking for ways to connect to the community. She noted Councilmembers have been
notified the legislative session has begun with hearings and the opportunity to provide
testimony. She is looking forward to meetings held in person again and the opportunity to
recognize the two newest Councilmembers Craft and Baruso. She feels the city has
responded well to the pandemic.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Bob Kellogg thanked King County for the $20,000 donation for the Veteran's Memorial and also
thanked King County Councilmember Pete Von Reichbauer for all he has done for the community.
Greg Busch spoke on behalf of AT&T regarding agenda item 7b. Mr. Busch urged the City to
consider updating its wireless code sooner to accommodate Macro Facilities. The City's current
code makes it difficult to improve wireless service with macro facilities in residential areas.
Cynthia Ricks-Maccotan thanked the Mayor for the thoughtful remarks and for the Black Lives
Matter proclamation.
Betty Taylor shared about problems she is experiencing with her apartment complex. She asked
what codes or laws are in place in Federal Way to help regulate landlords and repairs.
Roger Flygare shared his support for the Veteran's Memorial and shared that Veterans of Foreign
Wars (VFW) Post 1741 is also fully in support of this project.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Minutes: January 5, 2021 Regular and Special Meeting Minutes
b. Transportation Grant Funding Application
C. 2020 Pavement Repair Project — Final Acceptance
d. Greenway Pavement Markings Phase 1 (2020) Project — Project Acceptance
e. Award 2021 Street Sweeping Services Contract
2021 Planning Commission Work Program
g. Landscape Structure Retainage Release
h. "On Call" Electrical Services Contract Amendment
Lease Agreement between Bali Road and the City of Federal Way for Downtown
Substation
The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County Agreement for Shelter and
Related Services
k. Police Services Agreement with Commons Mall
ATS Verra Mobility Traffic Safety Cameras
m. Jail Services Contract — King County Jail
Jail Services Contract — Issaquah City Jail
Federal Way City Council Special Minutes Page 3 of 7
January 19, 2021
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HONDA MOVED APPROVAL OF ITEMS A THROUGH N ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA; SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER KOCHMAR. The motion passed
unanimously as follows:
Council President Honda yes Councilmember Craft yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson yes Councilmember Moore yes
Councilmember Baruso yes Councilmember Kochmar yes
Councilmember Tran yes
6. COUNCIL BUSINESS
a. Veteran Advisory Committee Proposal to Honor Veterans and Families to be Funded
by King County Veterans Program Grants
Policy Advisor Bill Vadino provided background on the memorial project. Mr. Vadino noted
King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer secured nearly $20,000 in grant money
for the project. He reported a large percentage of those asked preferred the memorial be
located at Town Square Park, however due to drainage issues and lack of close accessible
parking, the Town Center Steps at the Performing Arts and Event Center (PAEC) was
selected.
While the Veterans Advisory Committee's vision for the project includes more features, the
first phase funded by the two King County grants will include a thirty to thirty-five foot flag
pole, medallions or markers for each of the service branches, a plaque, and lighting
adjacent to the entrance of the PAEC.
Mayor Ferrell and Councilmembers thanked Mr. Vadino for the presentation and
Councilmember von Reichbauer for securing the grant money. They also noted their
excitement for a Veterans Memorial in the community, asked various questions and
provided additional ideas for future additions to the memorial.
COUNCILMEMBER KOCHMAR MOVED APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL BY THE
VETERAN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PLACE A FLAG POLE, SERVICE MEDALLIONS,
PLAQUE, AND LIGHTING TO BE LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE TOWN CENTER STEPS
ADJACENT TO THE PERFORMING ARTS AND EVENT CENTER, TO BE FUNDED BY KING
COUNTY VETERANS PROGRAM GRANTS; SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BARUSO. The
motion passed unanimously as follows:
Council President Honda
yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson
yes
Councilmember Baruso
yes
Councilmember Tran
yes
b. 2021 Federal Legislative Agenda
Councilmember Craft yes
Councilmember Moore yes
Councilmember Kochmar yes
Communication and Government Affairs Coordinator Steve McNey provided information on
the 2021 Federal Legislative Agenda. He introduced the city's Federal Lobbyist Rick Agnew
who also spoke regarding the items they will be following.
Mr. McNey reported the top four legislative priorities (based on Congressional timelines)
include COVID-19 support; turf funding for Celebration Park and other city parks;
transportation infrastructure (including City Center Access Project and Highway 18 Triangle
Project); and enhanced training for public safety personnel including body camera (body -
cam) support, Safe City cameras and license plate readers.
Federal Way City Council Special Minutes Page 4 of 7
January 19, 2021
Mr. Agnew and Mr. McNey also highlighted other priorities which will be pursued as
opportunities arise including environmental justice and aircraft environmental health and
safety for residents.
The Mayor and Council thanked both Mr. McNey and Mr. Agnew for the report and noted
their support of these lobbying efforts. They wished Mr. Agnew good luck in Washington
DC and look forward to a report back.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HONDA MOVED APPROVAL OF THE 2021 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA; SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. The motion passed unanimously as
follows:
Council President Honda
yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson
yes
Councilmember Baruso
yes
Councilmember Tran
yes
Councilmember Craft .yes
Councilmember Moore yes
Councilmember Kochmar yes
c. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Appointments
COUNCILMEMBER ASSEFA-DAWSON MOVED THE APPOINTMENT OF BRIAN HOFFMAN,
PAUL ISHII, AND TJ BAL AS VOTING MEMBERS OF THE LODGING TAX ADVISORY
COMMITTEE WITH TERMS TO EXPIRE OCTOBER 31, 2022; SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER
BARUSO. The motion passed unanimously as follows:
Council President Honda
yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson
yes
Councilmember Baruso
yes
Councilmember Tran
yes
d. Arts Commission Appointments
Councilmember Craft yes
Councilmember Moore yes
Councilmember Kochmar yes
COUNCILMEMBER KOCHMAR MOVED THE APPOINTMENT OF VICKIE CHYNOWETH AND
IVETA FELZENBERG AS VOTING MEMBERS OF THE ARTS COMMISSION WITH TERMS TO
EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2023; SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. The motion passed
unanimously as follows:
Council President Honda
yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson
yes
Councilmember Baruso
yes
Councilmember Tran
yes
7. ORDINANCES
Councilmember Craft yes
Councilmember Moore yes
Councilmember Kochmar yes
Second Reading & Enactment:
a. Council Bill #795: School Speed Limit Ordinance Amendment/APPROVED
ORDINANCE #21-905
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON, RELATING
TO SPEED LIMITS; AMENDING FWRC 8.30.020, 8.30.030, 8.30.040; AND ADDING
A NEW SECTION TO FWRC 8.30. (AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 90-29, 92-145,
93-177, 96-259, 00-364, 03-449, 10-668, 10-669, 10-675, 13-740, 15-807, AND 17-
832. )
City Clerk Stephanie Courtney read the ordinance title into the record.
COUNCILMEMBER BARUSO MOVED APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE;
SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. The motion passed unanimously as follows:
Council President Honda yes Councilmember Craft yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson yes Councilmember Moore yes
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January 19, 2021
Councilmember Baruso yes Councilmember Kochmar yes
Councilmember Tran yes
b. _Council Bill #796: Amendments to the Federal Way Revised Code (F11VRC)
Chapters 4 and 19 related to Wireless Telecommunication
Facilities/APPROVED ORDINANCE #21-906
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON, RELATING
TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES; REPEALING AND REPLACING
FEDERAL WAY REVISED CODE CHAPTERS 4.23 (SMALL WIRELESS
DEPLOYMENT), 4.24 (ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUESTS — FEDERALLY
REQUIRED REVIEW PERIODS), AND 19.256 (WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
FACILITIES) IN THEIR ENTIRETY; REVISING CHAPTER 4.22 (FRANCHISE FOR
USE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY); AND ADDING NEW CHAPTER 19.257 (ELIGIBLE
FACILITIES REQUESTS). (REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 20-890, 20-833, 19-862,
AND 18-850 AND AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 17-833, 18-863, AND 18-851.)
City Clerk Stephanie Courtney read the ordinance title into the record.
COUNCILMEMBER BARUSO MOVED APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE;
SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ASSEFA-DAWSON. The motion passed unanimously as
follows:
Council President Honda yes Councilmember Craft yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson yes Councilmember Moore yes
Councilmember Baruso yes Councilmember Kochmar yes
Councilmember Tran yes
c. Council Bill #797: Comprehensive Plan Amendment/Rezone/APPROVED
ORDINANCE #21-907
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON, AMENDING
THE FEDERAL WAY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP,
AND ZONING MAP, AND APPROVING A CITIZEN INITIATED COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN MAP AND ZONING MAP AMENDMENT AND LEGISLATIVE REZONE OF
5.48 ACRES LOCATED EAST OF PACIFIC HWY AND SOUTH OF THE REDONDO
HEIGHTS PARK AND RIDE, PARCELS 720480-0172, 720480-0174 AND 720480-
0165 FROM HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (RS 7.2) TO MULTIPLE FAMILY (MF
1800). (AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 90-43, 95-248, 96-270, 98-330, 00-372, 01-
405, 03-442, 04-460, 04-461, 04-462, 05-490, 05-491, 05-492, 07-558, 09-614, 10-
671, 11-683, 13-736, 13-745, 15-796, 15-798, 18-843 AND 19-866. )
City Clerk Stephanie Courtney read the ordinance title into the record.
COUNCILMEMBER BARUSO MOVED APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE;
SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ASSEFA-DAWSON. The motion passed unanimously as
follows:
Council President Honda
yes
CouncilmemberAssefa-Dawson
yes
Councilmember Baruso
yes
Councilmember Tran
yes
8. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Kochmar provided no formal report.
Councilmember Craft yes
Councilmember Moore yes
Councilmember Kochmar yes
Councilmember Moore looks forward to tomorrow (Inauguration Day) in hopes the country will unite
and move forward in a more positive way for all. He thanked the Mayor for the Black Lives Matter
Proclamation and appreciates the Council's work and leading with their hearts and being a voice
for all people in our community. He was thankful for the COVID-19 vaccination update from
Federal Way City Council Special Minutes Page 6 of 7
January 19, 2021
Emergency Manager Ray Gross and the city's continued collaboration with the School District. He
is pleased to see clean energy priority on the federal legislative agenda.
Councilmember Craft echoed comments thanking Jeri -Lynn Clark for her work in coordinating the
MLK Jr. Celebration with the Diversity Commission; she thought it was a very thoughtful
presentation and a good representation of Federal Way to share with friends and family outside the
community. She also thanked the Mayor for the Black Lives Matter Proclamation and would like to
take this week and reflect on the future and 2021. She reflected on a statement which resonated
with her and her young daughter noting this will be the last day America will not have had a female
vice president. She finds it personally exciting and inspiriting to see a woman of color representing
such a high office.
Council member Tran encouraged those who are able to take the COVID vaccine please do so (with
health care professionals' direction). He strongly encouraged social distance as we are not out of
the woods with the pandemic. He is looking forward to 2021.
Councilmember Baruso thanked the Diversity Commission for the MLK Jr. Event and noted it was
different than those he had been a part of for the last twelve years. He also appreciated the Mayoral
Proclamation recognizing Black Lives Matter and feels the community needs more healing. He
thanked Thomas Fichtner and Stacey Curry for the work on the new app "Eyes on Federal Way";
he is looking forward to seeing citizens utilize this and help keep the city clean. He noted he has
personally received both vaccine shots and encouraged everyone to maintain social distancing and
hand washing. He noted the Council is hosting a socially distanced food drive to support the Senior
Center on January 30.
Councilmember Assefa-Dawson thanked her Council colleagues and shared appreciation for
everything they have stated. She thanked the Mayor for the Black Lives Matter Proclamation and
for listening to the community and acting on it. She believes it is never too late to recognize and act
and make a strong statement. As a mother of three black men, she has had to had difficult
conversations with them because of the color of their skin. She also provided her thoughts on
immigrants who are coming to this country to find a better life than what they left behind.
Council President Honda recently attended the Senior Advisory Commission and the Board of
Health meetings. She encouraged Council to watch the Board of Health meetings which are carried
on Government Access Channel 22. She highlighted many training opportunities through MRSC
and encouraged councilmember participation. She thanked Councilmember Baruso and Chris
Brown for working on the Food Drive for the Senior Center which will be held on Saturday, January
30. She said due to social distancing they are not looking for any more volunteers. She reflected
on 2020 and that she is looking forward to the rest of 2021 and asks everyone to be kind and show
grace. She also encouraged mental health by turning off social media and the news for less
exposure.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being nothing further on the agenda; the regular meeting was adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
Attest:
4 -0
St nie Courtney
City Clerk
Approved by Council: 02�o2I M
Federal Way City Council Special Minutes Page 7 of 7
January 19, 2021